Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has signed a new contract with Mercedes that sees the Briton remain on the grid for 2021.
Hamilton’s future has been a long-running saga over the winter break, with his previous Mercedes deal expiring at the end of last year.
The seven-time world champion had put talks on hold as his prioritised his bid to wrap up the 2020 drivers’ title, before sitting down once the season was over.
While a deal was expected to be agreed, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff revealed last month “curveballs” were delaying negotiations but was confident an agreement would be reached.
Just a month before the start of the 2021 season, Mercedes announced on Monday Hamilton had penned a new one-year extension.
“I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates,” Hamilton said.
“Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track.
““I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations and I am grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue.
“I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport. I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.”
Mercedes confirmed a “significant part” of the deal is a wider commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport, taking the form of a joint charitable foundation.
Hamilton now heads into his ninth campaign with Mercedes, in a partnership that has yielded six world titles in seven seasons since he joined in 2013.
The 36-year-old surpassed Michael Schumacher’s long standing records for most victories and podiums last year, while also guiding Mercedes to a seventh successive constructors’ crown.
“We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue, but the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process,” Wolff explained.
“Together, we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within our sport.
“Lewis’s competitive record stands alongside the best the sports world has ever seen, and he is a valued ambassador for our brand and our partners.
“The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.”
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